Spring Break Reads

Currently I am reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. It's an easy read, and I enjoy learning about Rubin's year long project to improve her happiness. Some of the information is common sense such as: exercise, sleep 7-9 hours, do what you love to do. However, Rubin also mentioned facts that are easily forgotten. One of the issues that she struggled with was: it's easy to be heavy, hard to be light. I can relate to that. It's a challenge to let go and lighten up. I feel like I have improved over the years, and I don't consider myself a control freak anymore. But there is always room for improvement.

P.S. I feel like Rubin is friends with the authors of some of my favorite novels. She mentioned Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love) and Anne Lamott (Travelling Mercies) in her book.

P.P.S What is up with authors trying to do year long projects?

No Impact Man

Being eco-friendly is not just a fad -- it's a mission to live out a lifestyle that contributes rather than damages our environment. Colin Beavan set out to do just that. He committed himself and his family to a year without toilet paper, restaurant take-outs, and carbon emitting transportation. Amidst the absence of daily comforts, the family found happiness in the simple pleasures. The wife learned to cook dinner with vegetables from the local farmer's market. They had game nights and took bike rides to the beach.

I followed Beavan's blog during his one year project, and I learned a lot about various ways to help the environment. His blog made me more aware of my personal actions. When I go buy groceries, I try to use reusable bags so I won't waste plastic bags. Sometimes I feel out of place when I am the only shopper with a reusable bag. Watching No Impact Man: The Documentary, I realized that doing something counter-culture comes with pressure. Beavan faced a lot of criticism from sceptics and even environmentalists for his project. Acting on a radical idea will raise questions and concerns, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it. Beavan set out to bring more benefits than harm to our environment, and his efforts have inspired others to rethink their own actions.

Reinvent Yourself

Good evening. I am on a mission to spend less money. This means cutting back on shopping sprees and focusing on viewing my clothes in a new way. Every now and then I like to do little DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. I have a knack for sewing and tailoring clothes, and I enjoy redesigning clothes. Sometimes the projects are quite labor intensive so I usually do them during winter/summer breaks. One time I made a plain cardigan into a pretty one with rosettes. My inspiration: J. Crew's sweaters. I will share with you my DIY project. It is fairly simple to do.

Materials:
Any plain cardigan
A piece of silk or cotton fabric ( 1 in. X 18 in.)
Needle
Thread
Scissors

1. Take the piece of fabric and fold it in half hot-dog style. Iron the fold to smooth it out.
2. Use your handy-dandy thread and needle to sew up and down along the cut edge. As you go along, scrunch the fabric through the thread to create ruffles.
3. Tie a knot at the other end to fasten the form.
4. Now place the rosettes on the cardigan and make the design you want. I made a S-shape design.
5. Use your thread and needle to secure the fabric onto your cardigan.

Voila! I hope I inspired you to rethink your closet. Reuse. Save the earth and your wallet too!